For several years New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) has banned prisoners from calling cellphone numbers. Всушност, prisoners caught with cellphone numbers on their authorized pin list face harsh disciplinary sanctions like 365 days in solitary confinement. No calls to cellphones is a Zero Tolerance Rule of the NJDOC.

Во моментов. prisoners in New Jersey are only allowed to call landlines. Years ago a rule like this would not have done much to damage a prisoner&#8217;s support system, but due to advancements in technology and economic reasons, more and more people have done away with landlines and use cellphones as their primary phone. This rule imposed by the NJDOC has resulted in prisoners being cut off from their families and losing any outside support system. Many prisoners have become frustrated and depressed.

Three-Way Calls also Prohibited
Three-way calls are also prohibited by the NJDOC, another Zero Tolerance Rule. Some prisoners are willing to take the risk and break this rule just for the opportunity to speak with their loved ones. Other prisoners have given up and decided to utilize the mail system which is often unsuccessful.

Is Snail-Mail Enough?
Some prison officials have said that prisoners are not suffering from the phone restrictions because they have the opportunity to write letters. Letters will never be a substitute for a child hearing their mother&#8217;s or father&#8217;s voice.

Повеќе од 80% of New Jersey&#8217;s prion population will someday return to society. It&#8217;s critical that NJDOC realize a strong support system is an important component of successful re-entry. Men and women in New Jersey are leaving prison and returning to society with diminished support systems, frustrated, depressed, and desperate. This leads many ex-cons to revert to old self-destructive behavior and ultimately return to prison.

There is plenty of research that shows prisoners who receive visits and have strong support systems are less likely to return to prison. This is very important because the recidivism rate is 70%, which is an increase from four years ago.

Men and women are being recycled through the system, and it seems like nothing is being done.

NJDOC has claimed that its no calls to cellphones rule was imposed by Global Tel-Link (GTL), the prisons’ phone service provider. I was able to send a letter to GTL to ask why this rule was in place. A response from GTL clearly stated that the rule was put in place by the NJDOC. The letter also stated that GTL currently allows inmates in county jails to call cellphone numbers.

Some suspect the NJDOC does not allow calls to cellphones because all cellphone are not traceable or the NJDOC does not want prisoners to have access to features like call forwarding and three-way calling. Сепак, this technology is now available on landlines. Others suggest the rule is to prevent prisoners from contacting other prisoners who may have acquired a cellphone in prison. What is clear is that other jurisdictions allow prisoners to call cellphone, and NJDOC&#8217;s No Calls to Cellphones rule is a roadblock to prisoners’ communication and community connection.

What is the solution?

The solution is very simple: Allow prisoners to call all phone numbers. This would enable prisoners to maintain support systems and community ties. It would also prevent prisoners from attempting to circumvent NJDOC rules and policies and becoming subject to costly and inhumane disciplinary penalties such as solitary confinement.

Now is the time for prison reform!

Society must realize that justice is successfully rehabilitating individuals who have committed crimes. Dehumanizing prisoners and treating us like animals and taking away and violating our human rights is not justice.

The exclusively punitive nature of prisons is destroying youth and communities.

As more prisoners are released and return to prison, it is at the taxpayers’ сметка. Children are following the footsteps of their parents to prison. In order to stop this the community must get involved. One step at a time, we must push for prison reform!